brooks hayden: 18 months old

this little buddy is my side kick, my shadow, and my love...

brooks hayden

weight: 26 pounds

height: 34 inches

at 18 months, brooks loves:

-reading books

-"driving" dad's car

-being outside

-animals

-cars, trucks

-baby einstein

-watches, phones, purses, glasses, jewelry etc.

he loves to basically steal any form of accessory from anyone around him 

-sippy cups

-remi

-cuddling with his mama & daddy

-tubby time

he hates:

-nursery

-getting his finger and toe nails clipped
-the doctors office
-when he doesn't get his way

brooks is at such a fun age.  he is still pretty quite when it comes to speaking actual words but he understands everything and is able to communicate in his own way.  in addition to the other words he is able to say, he as added "go, jesus, sissy, truck, who's that, and what's that."
his favorite thing to do is point at everyone in the room including himself, and ask "who dat?"  he also LOVES to look at pictures of family and friends and point everyone out.

he is so sweet with remi.  every morning, he comes into our room, gets up on the bed, and wants to hold remi.  they smile at each other, and brooks will say, "hiiiiiiii!" and she will coo back to him.  he thinks it's so funny.  if she cries, he makes sure she has a binky and makes sure that we are aware that she needs something.  she is lucky to have a big brother like brooks.

brooks loves to dance whenever he hears music.  he flails his arms about, lifts his leg in the air, drops it low, and spins in circles.  some of his favorite songs on the radio currently are "pompei" by bastille, "all about that bass" by meghan trainor, and "roar" by katy perry.  he gets extra excited when these songs come on and gets the biggest smile on his face.  it's hilarious.

brooks is wearing size 4 diapers, and clothes ranging from 12 months to 2T.  he wears size 5 shoes, but i am starting to buy size 6 because he is growing like a weed.  he is funny with clothes and gets excited when i buy him new things.  almost every day he pulls down his basket with shoes and picks the ones he wants to wear for the day.  his new thing is trying on everyone else's shoes, or bringing us our shoes when he wants to go outside.  he also loves to open my drawers and put my garments over his head and walk around.

his new favorite thing is to climb and crawl on top of everything.  he gets the biggest smile when he's reached the top of something and stands up, like he is so accomplished.  recently, matt has taught him that he can also jump off things.  he is pretty cautious but he loves when we lay pillows below him and he can dive onto the pillows from whatever he is standing on.

he is such a cuddle bug and still has to be rocked to sleep for naps and bedtime.  usually it only takes about ten minutes, but sometimes it is a much longer process.  he has just barely within the last week gone from two naps a day to one nap.  he loves when we sing to him, but if he doesn't like the song choice he will let you know.

there are so many other funny, cute, weird, etc. things about brooks at this age, i really could write forever.  luckily, i've been keeping a line a day journal for brooks to remember all of his cute things.

happy 18 months sweet boy.  we love you so much!!

the zoo.

we wanted to do something really fun and memorable with brooks before his baby sister joined our crew.  one good thing about sister sue staying in the womb was that we were able to take him to "free zoo day" at hogle zoo. 

we forgot the camera, but captured some great moments on our handy, dandy phones.

i was worried that it was going to be over crowded but it was absolutely perfect!

brooks absolutely LOVED the animals.  he would squat, point, and laugh every time he saw a new animal.  he loved walking up to the glass and getting as close as he could.   at one point, there was a peacock just walking around the zoo and brooks thought it was hilarious.  he followed it all around and i got the cutest video, but of course it won't upload.

 i'm so happy that we got to go on one last family date with our little man.

my {not so} baby

tonight as i rocked and sang brooks to sleep, i couldn't help but get a little emotional thinking that this could be the last night that he is my baby.

for 15 1/2 months he's been my little side kick, my shopping buddy, basically my best little friend.  my heart feels a little sad for him knowing that any day now (wishing it was like, ya know, 5 days ago) his world is going to be completely rocked.

he's so good and soft with babies, in fact, he loves them, but i do worry about the shared attention and the fact that baby girl is here to stay.  

i'm excited to see him interact with her and learn how to incorporate her into our little club and daily routines and activities.

a few little things about brooks at {15.5 months} that i always want to remember...

his love of outdoors and trucks/cars.

last saturday, while brooks was napping i put up all of our halloween decorations.  when he woke up he was so excited and kept pointing to everything.  he then found this mummy and they became instant best friends.  he carries it around daily, snuggles with it, tackles it, and in the picture he is waving at his new friend.  he's such a funny boy.

he's looking like such a big boy and i love how cute he is in his little vest.

i bought him a backpack the other week and he is obsessed!  we have given up his diaper bag and he now is in charge of carrying his own diapers, wipes, snacks, and toys.  it makes him so proud and he looks stinking cute walking around with his backpack.

he loves taking selfies and often holds the phone up pretending to take one himself.

oh, how i love this sweet little boy.

he has been so cuddly lately and gives the best loves.

he knows that his baby sister is in my belly and he's already showering her with hugs and kisses.  he loves to lift up my shirt and pat my belly or poke my belly button.  

brooks hayden, you will always be my little baby boy.

i love you so much and i am excited to see you grow into a boy and a big brother.

you are so special to your daddy and me, never forget that.

xoxo, your momma

maternity photos pt. 2 + brooks at 15 months.

brooks jumped in some of my maternity pictures and was being the biggest ham.  this kid is not camera shy, and it made for some pretty sweet moments.  oh, i just love him.

brooks at 15 months

weight: 23 pounds 5 ounces (62%)

height: 33 inches (96%)

head circum: 19.25 inches (94%)

he loves:

-stuffed animals

-keys and driving dad's car

-playing outside

-throwing anything and everything away

-dancing to music

-fake laughing when other people are laughing

-getting chased/chasing people

-cuddling

-poking my belly button

-taking tubbys and dumping cups of water on himself

he dislikes:

-being alone

-when he doesn't get his way

-leaving his honey's house (grandma)

-most food as of late

-animals that get too close for comfort, he likes to admire from afar

at 15 months, brooks is quite the little handful.  he is into EVERYTHING.  he loves to open all the cupboards and take things out.  sometimes he will put them back.  he loves to hide things in drawers and his special hiding spot is the crock pot.  he routinely will walk into the bathroom and pull down all of the towels and unravel some toilet paper.

he LOVES to help out by throwing things in the garbage like diapers and trash and he gets the proudest smile on his face after he does it.  a few times a day i have to check the trash for other non trash items he may have "helped" to throw away... remotes, keys, clothes, food from the pantry etc.

he babbles a lot and can say typical words like mama, dada, hot, ball, shoes, zeus (his puppy), no, yeah, etc. but he is pretty stubborn when it comes to talking.  he will often repeat a word once or twice and then will not say it again.

he can sign all done, please, more, and thank you.

he understands so much, but chooses to communicate in grunting, pointing, and whining which can be quite annoying.

he has always been a cuddle bug, but lately he is so lovey and i can't get enough.  he is quite attached to his mommy and daddy and i can't help but think he knows his world is about to be rocked.  he constantly comes over to matt or i and lays his head on us and says, "awww." or lays a big wet kiss.  he loves to put his hands around our necks and nuzzle his little face into our shoulders.

he seriously is the sweetest little nugget. 

he is quite friendly and loves to wave to people at the store.  he is quite a flirt with the ladies and will bat his pearly blue eyes.

he LOVES to watch kids play, especially our neighbor kids and his cousins.  

he is quite the little turkey, but we love him to death.  he has made the last 15 months so fun and full of joy and happiness.  even when i want to sell him on ebay, he has the ability to melt my heart or make me laugh.

my baby is about to become a little boy.